Automatic sprinkler



(No Model.) ZShets-Sheet 1. G. C. JOHNSON. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Patented Mar, 18, 1890,

N P ETERSsPhoIwLiIMgr-Iphan Washington. n.c.

(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A G. C. JOHNSON.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

No] 423,608. Patented Mar. 18,1890.

WITNESSES; 'NVENTEJFQ.

UNITED STATES CHARLES JOHNSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SPRINGFIEIJD, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD ARMS, OF

BELLOWVS FALLS, VERMONT.

'AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 423,608, dated March 18, 1890. Application filed February 11, 1889. SerialNo. 299,376- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. JOHNSON, of Springfield, in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont,'have invented anew and tion are shown. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same, with a modification of the cap part, and in which is shown a different mode of securing the same to the body. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the modification of my invention designed more particularly to be used by connecting the same underneath a horizontal distributing-main. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the lower portion of the device represented in Fig. 3 upon the line w m. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail illustrating the beveled shoulders and fusible bar in position-,with the outer ends of shoulders f f removed. Fig. 6 illustrates the bevels on ends of fusible bar a.

My present invention relates to automatic sprinkling devices designed for use in factories, warehouses, and similar places, the said sprinkler being connected with water-mains or distributing-pipes usually placed near the ceiling and operated by the opening of a valve, said valve being closed and held in place by means of devices which will readily become released or detached by the action of heat.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, A represents the body of the sprinkler; 13, the cap h, the out let; D, the valve; g, the valve-seat; E, the valve-rod; c c, ears to the cap part; c c, ears to the body; d d, screws; f f, shoulders; a, an adjustable fusible bar, preferably made as a compound bar in three parts, indicated by a a a said parts being held together by some easily-fusible metal. b is a spring placed around the valve-stem. O is the distributer, the lower end of which is made dishing in form. v

The principal objects of my present inven* tion are to overcome the various defects found in the operation of articles of this class heretofore used, and in connection therewith I have devised an improved fusible compound bar, which, in connection with the valve-rod, is

' adjustable, and the valve mechanism is so arranged in the body of the sprinkler that the dirt and sediment will not choke the entrance to the sprinkler or interfere with the opera tion of the valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, the body A' is preferably made in the form shown, being threaded, as shown by Z, and designed to be used or attached to the side of the overhead main distributing-pipe, rather than depended underneath it, as is the case in other forms of sprinklers known to me. I prefer toattach my sprinkler to the side of the main pipe chiefly for the reason that this prevents the dirtand sediment from filling the opening and obstructing the operation of the valve, as is often the case when the sprinkler is depended beneath the main pipe. I place the 'valve D upon its seat 9 very near the connection of the body of the sprinkler withthe distributing-pipe. Underneath the body A, and connected with it, is formed the outlet h, and to this is attached the distrib uter 0, having upon its lower end the dishing or saucer-shaped part 10. Upon the opposite end of the bodyA, I preferably form two ears 0 c. To these earsI secure the cap B by means of set-screws d d, passing through corresponding earsc 0, formed upon the cap. Upon the outer end of the cap B are formed two shoulders f f, which I preferably make beveling upon the inside, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in order that the fusible bar a may be securely held in place. of the bar are formed, of course, to fit the inside bevels of the shoulders. I consider this important, as I thereby dispense with all The ends g or plug. By my device the great benefits of being able to readily remove the parts and lers therefore have no removable fusible bar clean thevalve and, other parts, and to quickly replace the parts, is secured,while-at the same time the parts are firmly held in place bythe fusible bar, which bar in turn is perfectly retained in position by the bevels, as descrlbed. These shoulders hold the compound fusible bar-a, and the valve-rod E when in position rests its outer end upon this bar.

The bar I preferably make of three pieces of metal a a a These pieces are soldered together by a fusible metal, or the bar maybe main distributing water-pipe of the system,

the valve-stem is presseddown and the adjustable bar a is inserted in the shoulders ff.

The -setscrews d d are then inserted in the ears 0 c c c, and the cap is thus drawn down, carrying with it the valve, which is consequently strongly seated and held in its position. Now, in case of fire the fusible compound bar a, is released by the heat from its position and the force of the water throws open the valve D, and the water from the main flows down through the discharge-outlet h underneath the body A of the sprinkler and is dashed with great force against the dishing end 70 of the distributer O, by which means the water is thrown in all directions.

For convenience a spiral spring I) may be used in connection with the valve-rod to press the rod outward; but it is not essential. It

7 will be seen that the valve-rod E vpasses through the cap B, and is preferably supported at the inner end of the cap, as shown at n. V

In Fig. 2 I show a modification of the cap portion of the sprinkler, which may be made whole and screwed directly to the body A, or may be formed of two pieces, as represented by B and F. In .this construction the inside of the inner end of the cap is threaded to. correspond with the screw-thread 1" upon the outer end 'of the body A.- WVhen the valve is adjusted and the bar inserted in the shoulders, as described, by screwing down the cap or the thimble portion of the cap when made detachable, as representedby F, the bar a will be drawn inward against the valve-rod E, and

the valve D will be seated home, as before. The-operation of releasing the valve in this construction is the same as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 I show another modification of my invention, this form being intended more especiallyto be attached to the main distributing-pipe from underneath and to depend from it as other sprinklers now in use are used. In

secured to the body A by a threaded screw m,

the dishing portion being at the bottom. and more particularlyrepresented in Fig. 4. The

shoulder-pieces f f are in this construction attached to the bottom of the distributer. In operation, when the fusible bar a is released by the heat the valve and its rod drops downward untilthe part D rests in the cavity D formed in the dishing portion of the distributer. This of course opens the water-vent, which falls into the bottom of the distributer and is scattered in all directions, as before.

I prefer the form shown in Fig. 1, although where it is'advisable the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be used without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

In the construction of the valve I place a packing of lead or other substance upon the end of the valve D, which I secure thereto by inserting in the end of the valve-rod a threaded screw with the point n outward, as represented by 0. By this means the packing can be easily removed or replaced, and is sufficiently secured thereby in its position upon the end of the stem. In most forms of sprinklers known to me, where it has been necessary to temporarily open the valv e,it has been necessary tounsolder the fusible connection and to resolder upon replacing the valve in its position but by my construction the compound bar a is made adjustable in the shoulders ff, and the valve can be readily opened at any time by simply slipping out the said bar, 7 The shoulders are made beveling, preferably,to aid this adj ustability. In each construction shown the cap or its equivalent draws the valve inward and seats it firmly without obstructing its operation when released.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An automatic sprinkler consisting of the body A, provided with the movable cap B, arranged to be inserted internally in the outer end of the said body and adapted to be moved in said body by suitable screws or screwthreaded parts, the said cap provided with the shoulders ff, the valve D, and valve-rod.

E, both valve and rod inclosed within the bodyA and cap B, the removable compound fusible bar a, the outlet it, formed underneath the body A and provided with the distributer 0, having the disk It, all combined and adapted to operate substantially asaudfor the purposes set forth.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the compound fusible bar a, ,formed of pieces a and a two subscribing Witnesses, on this 6th day of united end to end by the piece d arranged February, AD. 1889. to overlap upon the contiguous ends of pieces a aialljoined together by fusible metal, sub- I CHARLES C. JOHNSON. 5 stantially as and for the purpose specified. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my JOSEPH H. LATHROP, name to this specification, in the presence of BOWDOIN S. PARKER. 

